Replication groups evolve over time. As more objects are protected, a group that was once balanced can become harder to manage and can affect apply performance and maintenance timing.
Splitting is the standard way to address that growth: selected physical files are moved from a larger group into smaller destination groups.
This capability has long existed in the iCluster engine. In iCluster Web 9.5.0, it is now available through the Split Group Wizard, a guided browser workflow for planning, reviewing, and executing a split.
The Challenge: Group Reorganization Requires Precision
A group split is a high-impact administrative task. Before running it, administrators typically need clear answers:
- Which objects should move?
- Which destination group should each object go to?
- Should destinations be existing groups or newly created ones?
- What exactly happened for each object after execution?
The wizard is designed to answer those questions in one flow.
Bringing the Split Workflow into iCluster Web
From Management → Groups, the Split group action opens a dedicated full-page wizard with four stages:
- Choose destination
- Choose specifiers
- Review
- Summary
Splitting is available only when the source group is inactive, matching the existing engine prerequisite.
From one workflow, administrators can:
- Define multiple destination groups
- Create new groups as part of the operation
- Search and assign object specifiers visually
- Resolve generic specifiers into concrete objects
- Review the full plan before execution
- Track progress and inspect detailed results
1. Choose Where Objects Will Go
In the first step, destination groups are defined.
Administrators can either:
- select from eligible existing groups, or
- type a new group name to create it during the split.
Each destination is added to a working list and labeled Existing or New.
Which existing groups are eligible?
Only compatible existing groups appear in the destination list. In practical terms, a destination must:
- be different from the source group,
- be inactive,
- have the same primary node as the source,
- have the same backup node as the source,
- be in the same replication category (HADR-to-HADR or non-HADR-to-non-HADR),
- and, when both are HADR, use the same DR node.
Multiple destinations in one pass
A single split session can target multiple destination groups, so distribution can be planned in one workflow instead of repeating the process group by group.
Ignore Config Diff
For existing destination groups, Ignore Config Diff is available per destination. This allows intentional differences to be accepted when appropriate.
2. Select the Objects to Move
The second step provides a side-by-side assignment view:
- Left: specifiers in the source group
- Right: specifiers staged for the selected destination group
Search is available in both panels to work quickly through larger lists.
Generic specifier resolution
When a generic specifier is selected, the wizard opens a resolution view and expands it into concrete objects. Administrators can then include all or only selected objects, with clear visibility into what is being assigned.
Logical file handling
Selection remains focused on physical data files, while associated logical-file handling follows established iCluster behavior.
3. Review Before Execution
Before any changes run, the Review step shows the complete plan in read-only form, organized by destination group tabs.
This gives a final checkpoint to confirm assignments or go back and adjust them before execution.
4. Run and Verify Results
After Split is selected, the Summary step shows execution progress.
When complete, results are presented per destination group, including:
- success/failure counts
- object-level details
- failure messages where applicable
This provides immediate clarity on what moved, what did not, and why.
Who Can Do What
Split Group actions are available to superuser accounts. Other users can continue to view groups and status, but split actions are not offered.
The Bottom Line
Group splitting remains the same proven engine capability, now delivered through a guided web workflow in iCluster Web 9.5.0.
The Split Group Wizard combines destination planning, object assignment, generic resolution, pre-run review, and detailed post-run visibility in one interface - making a significant reorganization task clearer and easier to validate.
Product Demo
The following video demonstrates the full Split Group Wizard flow in iCluster Web.
Split-group-demonstration-on-icluster-web
